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"Parental Rights"

Table 2

Number of Participating Voucher Schools and Students,
and Average Voucher, Tuition and Surcharge Amounts,
1998-1999 and 1999-2000

(Data for all voucher schools)

Table 2 gives data for both years on the numbers of schools and students in the voucher program, the average voucher payments, average cost of tuition-had tuition been charged to these students-and the average voucher overpayment, or surcharge. Changes between the first and second years of the study are shown as well. The number of voucher students increased by more than 1,800 and the per-pupil tuition overpayment increased by $172. As
a result, the total bill to Wisconsin taxpayers for the voucher surcharge ballooned from $11.5 million in the first year to $16.4 million in the second41 The average overpayment per student to these voucher schools-state taxpayer subsidies over and above what the school would collect in the form of tuition-was $2,184 in 1999-2000.

Meanwhile, per pupil voucher payments increased by $46 while average tuition actually declined by $127. The average overpayment of $2,184 represents the difference between the average tuition charged by these schools ($2,528) and the average voucher payment received ($4,711). In other words, while private citizens would have paid only the $2,528 average tuition per student, state taxpayers were forced to contribute an additional $2,184 per student through the voucher program42

1998-1999

1999-2000

Change

Percent Change

Number of Schools

82

91

9

11%

Number of Voucher Students

6,032

7,902

1,870

31%

Average Voucher Payment

$4,666

$4,711

$46

1%

Average Tuition43

$2,654

$2,528

-$127

-5%

Average Surcharge44

$2,011

$2,184

$172

9%

Total Surcharge

$11,523,700

$16,422,900

$4,899,200

43%

Note: All dollar figures in this report are nominal dollars, unadjusted for inflation. Averages are
weighted by student enrollment.